There has been a sharp increase in the number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and lawsuits filed against Trump administration cabinet agencies over the past 14 months - but the rising backlog is actually a sign of a much more serious problem: the breakdown of our system of checks and balances.

Joint FOIA with EWG and ADAO seeking records to determine if EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and other top EPA officials have recently been meeting with several chemical and asbestos corporations and trade groups regarding the future impact of the Toxic Substances Control Act on the use of asbestos.

In 2017, American Oversight launched its investigation into the administration’s plans for building a wall between the United States and Mexico. Our Audit the Wall inquiry sought to reveal whether the government’s preparations treated all American businesses fairly, whether it adequately addressed environmental, worker safety, and property-owner concerns — or, as it turns out, whether there were any preparations at all.

FOIA to DOE regarding the photographer was put on administrative leave and his employment agreement was not extended after he disclosed photographs of Secretary Rick Perry meeting with Robert E. Murray, a political contributor of both President Trump and Secretary Perry and the head of Murray Energy Corporation.